Batavia's Zach Strittmatter received The National Football Foundation-Chicago Metro Chapter-Scholar Athlete Award & Scholarship. Zach received his recognition on Monday at the annual NFF awards ceremony where Illinois football players who excelled in athletics, academics & community service were honored.

Nominated by Head Coach Dennis Piron ... 4.28 GPA, class rank top 1% (1/463) ... has taken more honors/AP courses than any Batavia High School student in at least 10 years ... planning to major in Chemistry ... college TBD ... Wide Receiver ... three-year starter with 26-7 overall record including 21-2 in 2012 and 2011 ... Team Captain ... set school record for the most TD receptions in a season with 13 ... led the team with 796 receiving yards on 52 receptions (15 yards/catch) with 13 TD’s (team’s next highest WR had 24 receptions for 249 yards)…team was 9-0 in the regular season in 2012 (undefeated regular season in 2011 also) and won the Conference ... Class 7A All-State, All-Conference, Conference Offensive Player of the Year (unanimous choice by head coaches in the Conference) ... Academic All-State ... Academic All-Conference ... Chicago Tribune All-State Team Honorable Mention ... 2011 All-Conference, Academic All-State, Academic All-Conference ... basketball team (3 years including 2 years as Team Captain), Track (1 season)….Student-Athlete Board ... National Honor Society ... National Spanish Honor Society nominee and National Spanish Exam Qualifier ... video production award recipient from the Chicagoland Television Educators Council in 2010 ... American Cancer Society Relay for Life “Alex’s Army” volunteer since 2008 which is named after one of Zach’s friends that lost his battle with cancer in 2008 – co-leads the Alex’s Army team that has raised $82,000…raised money for Spastic Paralysis fundraiser via Key Club ... counselor for the school’s youth football and basketball camps.